Raiders sweep a pair of wins

Thursday

FRONTENAC — The Raiders volleyball team earned a pair of sweeps Thursday night, as Frontenac hosted conference rival Southeast High School and the Parsons Vikings in a triangular match.

Frontenac came out sluggish against Parsons, but managed to take both games of the match, 25-23 and 25-12. The Raiders rode the service of Kamryn Obsorn early in the first game against the Lancers before pulling away to win 25-12. Southeast held an 11-7 advantage in the second set against Frontenac, but could not keep it, as the Raiders pulled away to win the second game 25-19. Southeast also dropped both games to Parsons by scores of 25-17 and 25-15.

“I thought we came out slow, flat-footed, in that first game against Parsons, but against Southeast we turned a corner,” Frontenac coach Cassie Rhuems said. “I saw more energy, more sense of urgency, and our hitters were a lot more aggressive, which eliminates a lot of the errors that we had made in the first match. Overall, I am proud of the kids.”

The Raiders looked flat in the first game of the evening against the Parsons Vikings. Numerous errors kept Frontenac from building any momentum. It was not until late in the game — with the score at 21-20 — that seniors Kaylee Harper and Julia Falletti took control and helped their teammates put Parsons away, 25-23.

After Parsons scored to open the second game, Frontenac ran off six consecutive points to go up 6-1 early.

The Vikings would close the gap to 12-9 midway through the game, but the Raiders had a run of eight unanswered points to jump out to a commanding 20-9 lead. Frontenac did not allow Parsons back in the game, taking the second game and the match by a score of 25-12.

“We have to minimize the amount of mistakes that we are making that result in points for the other team,” Coach Rhuems said. “You have to keep your feet moving and play every point like it matters.”

Southeast had a frustrating time in their match with Parsons, but it started out promising for the Lancers.

Both times the Vikings jumped out to a lead, Southeast answered, tying the game at 6-6. But a recurring theme for the Lancers on the evening began when Parsons went on an 8-2 run to take a 14-8 lead.

A well-placed second hit by senior Kyra Stewart after the longest rally of any match on the evening brought the Lancers back to within three at 14-11.

On any other night, the balls hit by Bailee Ulery and Sailor Jackson looked promising, but the Vikings players did a remarkable job of digging all night, saving rallies and points for Parsons.

Makayla Buffington was able to put a kill away to make the score 17-14, but a service error and an ace put Parsons back up six, 19-13. The Vikings took the first game by a score of 25-17.

In the second game, each team traded points until the score was 5-all.

An ace by Parsons’ Morgan Hizey began a run for the Vikings, not ending until they were up 9-5.

The Vikings extended to a 14-7 run, as Southeast’s frustrations resulted in unforced errors. The Lancers got the score back to 14-10, but after a sideout for Parsons, the ran away from Southeast, going up 19-11 before closing the game out in a 25-15 victory.

“Parsons played well; they picked up everything we hit; they were pretty scrappy,” Lancers head coach Maya White said. “I thought we made too many errors and we couldn’t put the ball down.”

The last match of the evening pitted the two CNC rival teams against each other.

Southeast’s Ulery and Frontenac’s Shelby Blythe traded kills early in the game, which found the Raiders up 4-3 early.

Kamryn Osborn got an ace to begin a service that resulted in the Raiders going up 10-3 before a combined block by Saydi Sullivan and Taylor Myrick for Southeast ended Frontenac’s run.

Buffington and Jackson combined on another block for the Lancers to bring them within four at 12-8, but following another kill by Blythe, Frontenac rode Julia Falletti’s service to extend to a 17-9 lead, capped off by an emphatic kill by senior Kaylee Harper.

Following a timeout, Southeast tried to get back in the game, but Frontenac was just too much, as they ended the first game with a Gwen Smalley kill to win 25-13.

“We have to limit out errors,” Coach White said. “Right now, our toughest opponent we are fighting is ourselves. We need to find consistency.”

The Lancers jumped out to a 11-7 lead after a kill by sophomore Laura Ridings, forcing a Frontenac timeout. Coach Rhuems had seen enough of the unforced errors being committed by her players.

A well-placed second ball by Kayla Meyer got a side out for Frontenac, and she went on to serve four points in a row, including an ace to give the Raiders a 12-11 lead.

The teams traded points and the game stood tied when Harper got a kill to put Frontenac up 15-14.

Kills by Blythe and freshman Karma Fields helped the Raiders to a 19-16 lead that they would not relinquish, as they went on to win by a score of 25-19.

“I think we still have room to grow and some adjustments to make, but, overall, we are moving in the right direction,” Coach Rhuems said. “The point is be playing the best you can be at the end of October, and I know these kids will respond and do that.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.